Government to Introduce £100 Fines for Loud Music on Public Transport

The government is implementing a campaign to discourage loud music and video playback on public transport. Local authorities will be able to issue fines of up to £100 to passengers who fail to comply with requests to use headphones.

What happened

• The government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is launching a nationwide campaign to address the issue of passengers playing loud music or videos on public transport.
• This follows existing powers granted to local transport authorities under the Bus Services Act, allowing them to levy fines of up to £100 for non-compliance.
• The initiative aims to improve journeys for all passengers by reducing disruptive behavior.
• Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that even small changes in behavior can significantly impact passenger experiences.
• Authorized officers, including Transport Safety Officers and Police, will be responsible for enforcing the rules, rather than bus drivers.
• A national campaign, using the slogan "share the carriage, not the noise", will be deployed across operator websites, social media, and within carriages to reinforce this message.
• The Liberal Democrats have previously called for stricter penalties, including £1,000 fines.
• Campaign for Better Transport believes that these new powers could be a deterrent against antisocial behaviour, while Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham argues that the penalties are insufficient to address the escalating abuse faced by transport workers.

Original reporting

• Guardian: Andy Burnham launches campaign against ‘headphone dodgers’ on public transport
  2026-10-19T00:00:00+00:00
• BBC: People playing loud music on buses could face £100 fine
  2026-10-19T00:22:20.873000+00:00
• Sky News: Playing music out loud on the bus? You could soon be fined £100
  2026-10-19T02:36:00+00:00
• GB News: Passengers who blast music without headphones on buses and trains could be hit with £100 fines
  2026-10-19T00:56:59+00:00